RISK CONCEPTS CHAPTER 2. Chapter 2 This chapter will focus on the basic concept of environmental risk and risk assessment as applied to a chemical’s manufacturing,

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Presentation on theme: "RISK CONCEPTS CHAPTER 2. Chapter 2 This chapter will focus on the basic concept of environmental risk and risk assessment as applied to a chemical’s manufacturing,"— Presentation transcript:

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Chapter 2 This chapter will focus on the basic concept of environmental risk and risk assessment as applied to a chemical’s manufacturing, processing, and the impact of exposure to these chemicals on human health or the environment.

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Risk Concepts Risk = f (Hazard, Exposure) Exposure : Magnitude and length of time an individual organism is put under a certain constraint (hazard). Risk : Probability for an individual to suffer an adverse effect from an event. Hazard : Potential for a substance or situation to cause harm or adverse effects to environment and/or humans.

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Example I. Hazardous substances and risk Potassium Dichromate is a highly toxic carcinogenic chemical. It is used in some techniques to analyse exhaled breath for alcohol content. However for this purpose it is sealed in a tube, and does not become airborne when air is drawn over it. Therefore, although it is a highly hazardous substance, if it is use as described, it does not present any risk to the subject. Source:http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/hazard.htm

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Flour would not be considered as a hazardous substance. However, people exposed over a period of time to airborne flour dust and/or dust by skin contact could develop dermatitis, conjunctivitis, rhinitis and even asthma. Thus, long exposure to a low hazard agent may result in a substantial risk and low exposure to a highly hazardous agent may result in a low risk. Source:http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/hazard.htm II. Non hazardous substances and risk Example

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Types of Risk Voluntary Risks A consequence of actions taken out of necessity or by choice. (e.g., driving a car, riding a motorcycle, smoking cigarettes) Involuntary Risks A consequence of uncontrollable actions performed by others. (ex. exposure to environmental contaminants) Source:http://risk.lsd.ornl.gov/minicourse/rap_q1.shtml Natural Disasters These include floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters that are beyond human control.

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Risk Assessment “Risk assessment should estimate adverse impacts to health or the environment and determine whether these impacts pose a serious threat.” National Research Council (USA). Goal: To understand, quantify and communicate risk issues as comprehe nsively as possible. Tools: Laws and regulations concerning the substances

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Toxicological Hazards Substances that pose toxicological hazards can be divided into four categories: SPECIAL HIGH MEDIUM LOW HazardClassification of Substances Carcinogenic; Mutagenic; Toxic to Reproduction. Respiratory Sensitisers. Very toxic; Toxic; Skin Sensitisers; Corrosive. Harmful Substances examined but not meeting the criteria of the other hazard categories.

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Carcinogenic Assessments Genotoxic vs. Non-Genotoxic Carcinogens A Genotoxic Carcinogen “always” causes cancer regardless of its quantity or concentration – one molecule could alter DNA and cause a mutation. A Non-Genotoxic Carcinogen has a “safe” threshold quantity. If the nature (genotoxicity) of the substance is unknown, the carcinogen is assumed to be genotoxic.

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Carcinogenic Substances Classification Group A : Carcinogenic to Humans Group B1 : Probably Carcinogenic to Humans based on limited human evidence of carcinogenocity Group B2 : Probably Carcinogenic to Humans based on sufficient animal evidence, but inadequate human evidence Group C : Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans Group D : Not classifiable for Human Carcinogenicity Group E : Evidence of Non-Carcinogenicity for Humans

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Mercury (Hg) is an example of an air toxic Chronic (long-term) exposure to high levels of mercury in humans also affects the CNS, with effects such as erethism (increase excitability), irritability, excessive shyness, and tremors. Example of a Carcinogenic Chemical Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of mercury in humans results in central nervous system (CNS) damages which can result in, among others, tremors and mood changes. Source: www.osha.gov

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Non-Carcinogenic Effects How to Calculate... R f D = NOAEL F A F H F S F L F D Where: F A is an adjustment factor to extrapolate from animal to human populations. F H is an adjustment factor for differences in human susceptability. F S is an adjustment factor used when data are obtained from subchronic studies. F L is an adjustment factor applied when the LOAEL is used instead of the NOAEL. F D is an adjustment factor applied when the data set is dubious or incomplete.

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Dose-Response Assessments Characterizing the relationship between the quantities (dose) and resulting adverse effects (response) of a given material. Requires dose-response curves that demonstrate the effects of chronic toxicity

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Exposure Assessments “Determining not only the size and nature of the population affected by a potential exposure but also the length of time during which they may be exposed.” Normally the exposure assessed will be an external exposure. Where the conclusion is that this level is "of concern", it may be necessary to determine the internal exposure.

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Risk Characterization “Estimating the magnitude of the adverse effects on given populations by compiling all the data from the three previous steps.” This stage involves the quantitation of the risk following consideration of the exposure and the dose-response (effect) relationships.

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. The function of the system is to regulate a wide range of biological processes, including: Disruptions in hormonal balance at critical life stages may have long-lasting effects. Source:http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/EDC/ Control of Blood Sugar. Growth and Function of Reproductive Systems. Regulation of Metabolism. Brain and Nervous System Development.

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Risk Management “Identifying, evaluating, selecting and implementing actions to reduce risk to populations and environments.” This step is a scientific attempt to identify and estimate the true risks, by considering the : Hazard(s) Dose-Response Relationship Risk Characterization. Potential solutions are then proposed, selected and implemented in order to minimize the risks.

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Environmental Law and Regulations Why are these laws made? - To protect human health as well as the environment by placing limits on the concentration and quantity of different chemicals in manufacturing waste streams. - Recently, laws and regulations encouraging pollution prevention have been put in place to encourage waste minimization instead of controlling the regulated substances.

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Environmental Law and Regulations Where can we find them? North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation http://www.cec.org/home/index.cfm?varlan=english México  Semarnat http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/wps/portal Canada  Canadian Environmental Protection Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-15.31/  General Index to Laws http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/index.html USA  General Index to Laws http://www.epa.gov/epahome/rules.html

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Engineering Ethics “In addition to the laws and regulations by which chemical engineers should abide, there exist codes of ethics.” These codes of ethics can be found : American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) http://www.aiche.org/about/ethicscode.htm Canadian Society for Chemical Engineers (CSChE) http://www.chemeng.ca/ethics Instituto Mexicano de Ingenieros Quimico (IMIQ) http://www.imiq.org/ The Online Ethics Center for Engineereing and Science http://www.onlineethics.org/